Winchester/Browning 1895 - .30-06 Pet loads?

[salvo]

Well after my last batch of .30-06 loads with military brass failure (To hot) I rounded up some commercial brass thanks to "bsaride" I'll be starting from square one.
Thought I would ask the wisdom here as to favorite loads for the .30-06 in the 1895, this time I will start a good 10% belowe the recommended loads and work up
I have a bit of IMR4831 but it does not meeter very well and am open to other powders as well. I also have a pretty good supply of Hornandy 180gr BTSP Interlocks.
Sure appreciate your thoughts.

[BenT]

I use one of Ken Water's pet loads in my 1895 . I haven't had much time to develope loads.

55 gr of H4350 with 180 gr speer . AOL 3.300

average vel. 2633fps extreme spread 30 fps .85 in at 50 yds

I don't plan on changing powder but would like to play with AOL. I backed the AOL to 3.23 and groups opened up to 1.4 in and ex. sp. opened up to 79 fps .The Browning 1895's have short throats. I had 180 gr rem that shot a tighter group, but I ran out.

Ken Water's list 180 gr hornady spire point with 57 gr or IMR 4831 at 2778 fps and comments it as a very accurate load.

Good Luck!

[Leverluver]

I have worked with several new 95s in different calibers as well as a few wildcats. IMHO the rifle is good for SAAMI pressures BUT the brass will have short life. I pressure tested the loads in a separate test rifle and then fired them in the various 95s. If you pick a powder that you like and then back off the top load in the book sufficient to reduce the velocity by ~125fps, you bring the pressure into the range (45,000 CUP/52,000psi) that will yield much better life for the brass. Even then, the 30-06 will give you velocities equal to or greater than a 308 Winchester which is more than plenty for any critter hunted with an iron sighted rifle, up to and including elk at 200 yds.

[salvo]

BenT, thanks I should have said that my 1895 is a Browning. I was thumbing through a copy of Ken Water's book a few days ago at Sportmans Warehouse, probably should go back and buy it.
Thanks for the loading down tip Leverluver, from past experiance they usually are more accurate to.

My first loads with the military brass were 56.5 gr IMR 4831 and the 180 BTSP and they were too hot! I pulled them and reloaded them at 53 gr of IMR 4831 but have not tested them yet. I dont think I will use the thicker military brass again unless this starting load turnes out to be very accurate.

[OJ]

I guess every group has to have an uncouth clod but I shoot Wolf Gold 150 gr in my Winchester 95 -



But, I sure do love shooting that rifle !!

[RKrodle]

OJ,

I drool all over myself every time I see that rifle of yours. That is beautiful.

[salvo]

So do I,
OJ, this is my first 1895 and I know what you mean, something about the 1895 that just feels good to handle, shoulder & shoot the rifle.

[OJ]

Thanks, guys - as you may remember, It was a gift from my wife for our 25th anniversary 4 years ago (OK - so I cheated a little and "found" it for her).

All she got was a little diamond (in a ring) and she's still convinced she got the best of the deaL

Women - gotta love'em -

[salvo]

Yep, that is the perfect Silver Anniversary present!
My Wife and I, celebrated our 25th this year, I did not get a rifle, just a great woman. She knows I'm fine at getting firearms all by my self

[salvo]

One more question, how far off the lands do you like you bullet to be?

[86er]

I like 50.0 gr IMR 4895 with the 165gr Core Lokt and a CCI 200 primer. The load is the most efficient use of powder in the bullet weight. Great for anything under 350 lbs and accurate in a variety of rifles.

[salvo]

I'll give that one a try 86er I have some Hornandy 165 Spire Points and IMR 4895

[BenT]

Salvo , I reference Ken Waters all the time. Midway has it on sale this month for $40 plus book shipping is only a few bucks . Unless you buy other stuff while your at it. In fact now that they have the complete edition of Pet Loads out . I want one for Chrismas and will give my old one to my buddy who keeps borrowing it.

I keep the bullet within .010 of the rifling and I get a tighter group. I plan on trying 53 and 54 grain loads to see how they compare. I don't need a real hot load . I'm not shooting that far with open sights. I can hit milk jugs at 150yds off hand with this load.

[Slick13]

My first loads with the military brass were 56.5 gr IMR 4831 and the 180 BTSP and they were too hot!

Well, that is only .3 grains below the max listed on Hodgdon's website. You're doing the right thing dropping back to Hodgdon's start load of 53 grains of 4831.

If you're wanting to stick to the heavier 180 gr. bullet, I'd look to powders like 4350, 4831, RL19, RL22, and W760. 150 gr. bullets, I'd look to powders like Varget, 4064, 4895, RL15. Since you aren't shooting a bolt gun, I wouldn't be going for max loads.

I'm currently reloading .30-06 for a Savage 114 Classic I picked up this fall. Since I'm not going to have a lot of time for experimentation before deer season, I went with Sierra's 165 gr. soft point Game King. I called Hodgdon and said "If you were loading .30-06 for a bolt gun, and had all the Hodgdon, Winchester, and IMR powders at your disposal, which would you go with with that bullet?" Answer? "H4350, and a full case of it if you can. Second choice would be Varget". Right now I'm loading Federal Brass, Federal LR Match Primers, 56 gr. of H4350, and 165 gr Game King. Had an accident with the chrono, so I'd have to guess at velocity (and I'd guess it's between 2700 and 2800 fps). If I wasn't alway screwing things up, I'm confident this load and rifle will shoot into well under an inch at 100 yards. This is no where near a max load in my gun, and I could probably put two or three more grains of powder in there (if there's enough room), but I see no reason to push the pressure max to maybe wringe 100 or 150 fps more out of the rifle.

~Michael

[PaperPatch]

I have the Browning version...and I like heavy bullets in my 30-06. Mine shoots 200 grain Sierra's very well. They are seated out just shy of the rifling, and are propelled by 42 grains of IMR 4064.

[Lastmohecken]

I just don't have time to reload for every rifle I have, so I havn't reloaded for my Browning 95. Another reason I havn't so far is that mine really likes the old Winchester 220gr factory silvertip load, so I have used it, however most 180gr factory loads I have tried did well, also.

[blackhawk44]

Found that my '06 Browning '95 gets indigestion with every 150 gr load, including four factories. Since there aren't many elk in my country, 165 grainers seem to be the ticket. In actions with weaker extraction than a bolt action, I have found that careful sizing and well less than maximum pressure are the ticket. In my gun only, a 165gr boattail ahead of 46gr of 4064 reaches 2640fps with very pleasing groups. Even though its not maximum, game up to 300 lbs inside 250 yards just drops. Go figure. Pressure is so low that extraction and feeding are like a .22LR.